Say yes to opportunity, change and challenge

As entrepreneurs, when we say yes to opportunities that make sense, we become invigorated – and that spurs growth

In 1988, Louis approached me one day and asked if I would join him in building a business. I knew I was taking a chance but I said yes.

By saying yes, I had to turn down an offer from Tom that would have made me three times the income over the short term. There were days when I was struggling and stressed and thought that perhaps things would have been different if I had said yes to Tom and no to Louis.

But in the long term, it worked out for the best. In fact, it has worked out wonderfully.

Some of the greatest things in life happen when we say yes. Think about the times where you’ve taken a chance on something or someone and it has changed your life for the better. The time when you said yes to an invitation, yes to a date, yes to an opportunity, yes to volunteering.

I know there have been many times when I’ve been scared and stood there wondering what I’ve just agreed to. Sometimes saying yes has involved a lot of work, time and commitment. But who said we would grow if there weren’t some challenges?

Recently, I was working with a business owner, James, who said yes to a challenge. James could have let his business continue on the road it was on but he knew in his heart that it wasn’t satisfying. James understood that continuing to do what they had always done was going to lead to failure. Not only failure of the business, because the business model didn’t work anymore, but also failure to follow his dreams, which in essence is a spiritual failure.

How many of us continue to do what we’re doing even though we know it’s not working?

How many of us are doing the same old thing in business and getting the same results, even though we know we have the opportunity to say yes to something better?

As James is about to discover as he moves his business in a different direction, there will be challenges. However, change is life for James – new life for his business and life-giving for himself.

As entrepreneurs, sometimes we get stale doing the same old things. When we say yes to opportunities that make sense, we become invigorated. And this invigoration spurs on growth and growth, when managed properly, is often profitable.

Is it time for you to say yes to change in your life or your business?

Troy Media columnist David Fuller, MBA, is a certified professional business coach and author who helps business leaders ensure that their companies are successful. David is author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Email Dave dave@profityourselfhealthy.com.